Packet boxing machine and method



Dec. 27, 1938. R. s. PULLE'N PACKET BOXING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 28, iase 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fliiorr gb'.

Dec. 27, 1938. R; s. PULLEN v 2,111,448

PACKET BOXING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 28, 1956 4 Sheets-sheaf. 2

Dec. 27, 1938. R. s. PULLEN PACKET BOXING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet s v NN QM W/ J v Dec. 27, 1938. R. s. PULLEN V PACKE T BOXING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jam 7 Row 19d? @nv u h Patented Dec. 27,. 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FlCE' 2,141,448 PACKET BOXING MACHINE AND METHOD Rodney S. Pullen, Akron, Ohio Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 117,819

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to the stacking and boxing of packets, particularly of match packets, and while intended for any use to which it may be adapted is thought to be particularly 25 desirable in the manufacture of match packets of book, of Pullenlite and of other types, for use cooperatively with the packeting conveyer to deliver, to stack and to box the packets from the packeting conveyer. It may provide for cutting away of the paper matches from their stub strips when the packets are for example of the Pullenlite? type.

A purpose of the invention is to deliver packets simultaneously from a plurality of links of a match packeting conveyer, preferably from six links at a time, delivering the packets in their own planes usually head end foremost, subsequently stacking the packets with their opposite ends each alternately up and down, and at intervals delivering" two rows of the stacked packets into a single box, or to arrange six rows of the stacked packets, three pairs of closely adjacent rows, at a boxing station'for simultaneous delivery into three boxes at each delivery stroke of a boxing plunger. 7

. A further purpose is to cut the stub strips from 'match packets alternatively after the packets have been delivered edgewise from a packeting conveyer or while the stub strips are still gripped by conveyer members.

A further purpose is to stack on end, with opposite ends each alternately up and down, packets that are being delivered in horizontal position, using the same plunger to forwardly progress the packets edgewise in-their own plane, to cooperate in stacking them on end and step by step to move the stacked packets to a boxing station adjacent a boxing plunger.

A further purpose is to upset endwise packets which are progressing step by step, alternately one upon its forward end and the next upon its rearward end, and so on, in order to stack them with the opposite ends of successive packets each alternately directed one up and the next down.

As a part of the operation of upsetting packets which are being moved step by step, so as to stack them upon their forward and rearward edges alternately, a further purpose is to use friction be- 50 tween the guideway sides of the packets "and the packets themselves to hold them'in their partially upset position and to maintain them in upsetv position as they are moved further along their path of travel.

, A further purpose is to provide alternate forms and stacking mechanism for packets which are travelling step by step.

A further purpose is to synchronize the step-bystep operations of a match packeting conveyer, a packet delivery mechanism and stacking and boxing mechanisms.

A further purpose is to register two side-byside stacks of packets under a box charging plunger for the simultaneous delivery of both stacks into the same box, each delivery stroke of the plunger charging a box for the length of the box with two rows of packets.

A further purpose is to provide a pair of packet guideways which support and deliver stacks of packets, with swinging floor sections at a boxcharging station to hinge open in accommodating downward strokes of a box charging plunger, and to use the open floor sections to ensure proper registry of the box with the descending stacked packets. The sections are resiliently retracted with the upward return of the plunger.

A further purpose is to support a packet box in registry with two side-by-side stacks of packets in different packet delivery guideways in order that the two stacks of packets may be placed in the box coincidently.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have elected to illustrate my invention by one main'form and a few minor modifications only among many forms available, selecting illustrations that are practical and effective in operation and which well show the principles involved.

Figure lis a schematic plan intended for a conventional illustration of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a portion of Figure 1, taken upon the line 22 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows, to illustrate a desirable form of packet stacking mechanism.

Figure 3 is a front elevation .of a portion of Figure 1, additionally illustrating the desirable mechanism of Figure 2. V

Figure 4 is a schematic elevation intended. for a conventional illustrationof the invention and showing a somewhat different stacking mechanism from that of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 9 are hypothetical cam diagrams to illustrate different suitable timing relations of the-mechanisms shown inFigures 4 and 3 respectively.

Figure 6 is a section of Figure 4 taken upon the lines 6-6 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6 and 6? are sections corresponding to Figure 6, but showing modifications.

Figure 7' is a left elevation of Figure 4, partly in section, but omitting part of the structure indiv cated schematically in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a modified fragment of Figure 4.

Like numerals refer to'like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings:-

Figure l is intended, in its broader aspects, for a conventional plan of any structure for carrying out the invention; along withwhich is shown some structure particularly intended for stacking packets l4 carried by their uncut match comb stubs l from the individual links 56 of the packeting conveyer l'i.

The conveyer operates intermittently in timed relations with a conveyer delivery plunger l8 and feed frame 9. The conveyer IT intermittently moves forward a distance of six links and at the end of each six-link forward movement brings six packet-carrying links to rest at'their packet delivery positions, 7

This forward movement cannot take place except when thefeed frame I9 is raised as is indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2.

In Figure 2 the packets of but one row show, but the same operations are applied to the packets of each of the six rows, here treated as formed together.

A selection of the six rows is not vital but is convenient. The 60-match comb forms six packets of convenient width and the divisioninto six parts accommodates mechanism for cutting and spacing shown in my copending application. It is desirable that the number of rows be even so that the packets from two rows can be filled to-, gether into the same box.

The bodies of the packets which are intended to be handled by these respective links project laterally from the links and slide along the feed table 20. Their stub strips are engaged by the respective links and the movement of the respective links gives them their sliding motion along the feed table 20. They come to-restrin what is here termed their delivery positions in which they underlap the raised frame I9.

The packeting conveyer may be of any suitable type provided it delivers the packets to a point at whichthey can be received and handled by the mechanism hereindescribed; The one shown is Well adapted to handle Pullenlite packets; because it allows the packet toproject and supports it by uncut match comb stub material.

The feed frame successively lowers at the rear of the stroke, feeds forward, rises and retracts.

While the feed frame remain's raised the'six forwardly projecting arms 2| of the plunger l8 make a forward stroke and at least partially retract. On their forward stroke they pass through the individual conveyer linkssuiiiciently to push the still uncut stubs of the match comb sections within the packets free from their engagement within the conveyer and to place the packets in properly registered position below and within the space to be enclosed by the rearmost rectangular openings 22 of the feed frame. After the plunger 18 retracts out of the way, the feed frame 19 descends to the full-line position of Figures 1 and 2, the rearward bara of the,

' respectively are packets which feed frame falling back of the uncut comb stubs 23 of the packets now at stage A on the feed table 20. a The packets indicated at stages B, C, D, E and F previously have passed through stage A and which have been advanced from stage A to stage B or from stage B V "of the bar D. d As seen in Figure 2 the packethas been pushed to stage C, or from stage C to stage D, or from stage D to stage E or from stage E to stage F, as the case may be, by operations of the feed frame, some being directly engaged by bars of the frame and others'being shoved by packets so engaged. a a

In the description for the present the operation in one row only will be described, the same thing taking place coincidentally in all six rows.

The feed frame I9 operates through a cycle of successive feedings (to the left in Figure 2), upward movements to clear the packets, rearward retractions (to the right in Figure 2) and lowering in position to engage other packets. V The .cycle may therefore conveniently be divided into downward and forward operating strokes and upward and rearward retraction strokes.

In Figure 2 theframe is shown after it has retracted rearwardly and has dropped to position so that the bar a'lies back of the packet at stage A and with the bar b in position back of the packet in stage B. There is a bar 0 which is a stiffening or holding member for the support of the packets during the cutting operation and the frame carries a bar 02 which engages and pushes packets which have intermediately been turned up on end, alternate packets resting on the front and on the rear end of the packet later more fully disclosed.

The bars a and b are the only bars in the illustration which engage packets which 'are lying down flat, i. e., in horizontal position. This means merely that the operation can be performed without requiring more bars than this for the purpose indicated. Other bars of course can be us'ed.

The frame is shown in rear position in Figure 2.

Between the stages A and B a cutter Z4 is located which is shown in packets to cut off the stub ends at stage B while thehead ends of the packets are held against tilting by the bar '0. conventional form of'a plain knife.

After the stub ends have been cut off and. have been removed through the opening 25, the packets in position Bare moved by bar b to stage Cat the same time that a new packet-from stage A replaces the packet previously located at stage B.

The illustration in Figures 1 and 2' is schematic to the extent that it does not show any support for the knife but a vertical slide 26 for the knife is shown in Figure 3. r

The packets are guided at stage C by flange sides 21 and each packet as it progresses from stage C pushes the packet ahead of it into the path of movement of 'plungers 2B and 29 which "operate alternately, 28 as'shown engaging the stem end of the packet 'to lift it about the head end of the package as a fulcrum, and plunger 29 positon to operate upon.

The cutter is shown in the by friction against the side walls in its tilted .position until bar (1 carried by the ,feed frame engages it and forces it from'this stage D to the next stage E in which the packet has been straightened up to vertical position by pressure from the rear to stage D by the packet in stage C. Whether a separate bar of the feeding frame be used or not here is evidently optional. When the packet is up-ended from the front, the pre? cedi g packet '(or the bottom of thebar din other figures) presses the flat packet and so are unnecessary where the part of thetable 20.

direction of the arrows,

bottom of the packet and helps to turn the packet fully to vertical position. Finally the upper part of bar at engages the upper part of the packet and pushes the packet against that one last previously upended.

Those packets which are tilted from the rear as by plunger 28 lose touch with the preceding no longer shoved by it. However, the upper part of the bar d with the feed frame engages the upper parts of these packets directly and pushes them into engagement with the last packet up-ended. In either event the succeeding packets are pushed from stage to stage by the following packets. In this way a solid row of vertically placed packets is formed to the left in Figure 2 and is progressively fed to the left during the operation of the frame.

The lip-ending is effective as described without further assistance but with some types of packet it may be desirable to additionally protect against the packets falling back from partially up-ended position such as, for example, the positions shown in Figure 2. In this case the walls of the guideway can be made narrow enough to give a frictional hold upon the packet throughout its progress. This is useful also in holding the packets after they have progressed beyond the up-ending stage and in order to prevent individual packets from falling out of the group as a row section of them is being forced down into the box during the boxing operation.

In the manner described successive row sections of packets are found in vertical position, the matches alternating with heads up and sticks up in successive row sections. Each section as it is completed is charged into the box as hereinafter more fully described. Though individual charges filling the boxes are shown, the preferred construction charges each box from adjoining guideways with two parallel rows of packets. e The stage B has been set in order to cut the matches free from the stubs. This of course is matches are not intended to be cut (as in-the book type) or have already been cut.

The cutting stage has been included here because the Pullenlite match packets are most conveniently handled on the conveyer by their uncut stubs, leaving the operation of cutting to be performed either as the conveyer or-as at stage B-after the delivery from the conveyer. With book type matches, or where the cutting at stage B becomes unnecessary, the cutting can be omitted.

The feed frame moves up after each forward stroke and then while raised retracts to the position shown in dot-and-dash line, Figure 2, completing the cycle.

The packeting conveyer H may begin its next six link advance as soon as the feed frame it moves out of the way of the new set of six packets. The new. packets are discharged at their delivery positions in front of the plunger !8.

Figure 3 is intended to illustrate suitable details of one desirable embodiment of the structure of Figure 2.

In Figure 3 the chain packeting conveyer l'l, not itself shown in the figure, is intended to travel along a conveyer guideway 3i, formed as Principal cam shafts are These are rotated in the by any suitable means shown at 32 and 33.

in proper timed relations with the intermittent movements of the conveyer H, the shaft 32 to rotate twice for each single turn of the shaft 33.

In the operation of the several plungers as described, the plunger |8 moves in horizontal reciprocation, the plunger for the knife 24 in vertical reciprocation, the plungers 2B and 29 both in vertical reciprocation and the feed frame i9 is horizontally reciprocated but at the ends of its stroke is lifted at one end and lowered at the other comprising a vertical reciprocation.

The reciprocation of the plunger IS, the vertical reciprocation of knife 24 and both the horizontal and vertical movements of feed frame 59 take place one complete cycle to each rotation of shaft 32. The reciprocations of the plungers 28 and 29 alternate so that one or other of them (but not both) reciprocates for each rotation of the shaft 32. This is accomplished by operating both of them for each rotation of the shaft 33,

one during one half turn of the shaft and the other during the other half turn of the shaft.

In order to carry out the movements above and to provide balanced operating mechanism, the shaft 32 carries three sets of cams, respec tively to operate the plunger I8, to vertically position the feed frame l9 and to operate plunger 25 carrying the knives 24; and the shaft 33 carries three sets of cams, respectively to horizontally reciprocate the feed frame l9, to operate the forward upsetting plunger 28 and to operate the rearward upsetting plunger 29.

Each set of cams includes two cams relatively spaced along the cam shaft. The two cams in each set unite to perform the same function.

' One cam only of each set of the six sets of cams is shown, the other of the pair, in each case, lying back of its mate and being identical with the one shown. The cams shown are in dot.

The plunger I8 is operated by spaced links M, of which one only is visible, intended to connect to a rocker bar 35, pivoted at 36 to any suitable fixed member and carrying at its lower end a cam-engaging wheel 31. The forward position of the rocker 35 is indicated in dot and dash.

The feed frame I9 has horizontal slide support at 38 in a vertical slide 39, which slide 39 is positioned vertically by a cam $0 and a cam-engaging wheel 4!, carried by a downward extension from the slide 39. The vertical slide 26 carrying the knives.

The feed frame is horizontally positioned by counterpart operating cams of one set located near opposite sides of the frame. Each cam is double thus operating once for each half turn. One double cam only shows in Figure 3. The connections with the feed frame include a link 46, a rocker 41 pivoted at 48 and operated by engagement of the cam 29 with wheel 59.

Likewise the front and rear upset plungers 28 and 29 carried by vertical slides 5i and 52 are each vertically operated by two counterpart sets of spaced cam and link mechanisms. One set only shows in Figure 3 and comprises laterally spaced rockers 53 and 54, pivoted at 55, rocker wheels 56 and Eiltravelling in internal earns 53 and 59 and links 60 and 6| between the slides 55 and 52 and the rockers 53 members 53, 56 and 60 in their full line positionsare hidden by the members 54, 51 and ti and the numerals 53 56 and 60 have been thereand 54, respectively. The

'it desirable to treat at one time. erate within slots 18'.

fore applied to the indicated dot-and-dash positions of the respective members. I V

The schematic elevations Figures 4 and '7, like Figure 1, are intended to be a conventional showing of any structure for carrying out the invention. As shown in Figure 4, theconstruction is suited for book type packets. modification (see Figure 7) it can be suited to handle Pullenlite packets.

In Figure 4 typical match book packets Hl'are seen within links it" of a match book packeting conveyer operating intermittently in proper timed relation with the conveyer delivery plunger l3 and feed frame H? as already explained, generally, for Figure 1.

In that the packets of the match book type before their delivery from the conveyer do not project out of the conveyer links l6, these packets are initially outof the way of the feed frame, which makes it permissible to have the horizon- :tal forward strokes of the plunger l8 and of the feed frame l9 simultaneous; also'to have their horizontal retraction strokes simultaneous and, as indicated, the horizontal movements of the delivery plunger l8 and of the feed frame l9 are both operated from a cam shaft 62. are both actuated by the same set (pair) of counterpart cams 63 at opposite sides of the machine through cam wheels 64 and rockers 65, pivoted at 65. Each rocker 65 connects at the top by link 6'! to the feed frame l9 and connects at the bottom by link 68 to a rocker 35, pivoted at 35 and operating the delivery plunger 58' by link 34.

The feed frame i9 is shown as supported to slide horizontally at opposite sides in theverti cal slides ii, that is through opposite counterpart supports, providing one support at each side of the frame, of which both are shown in Figure 7 but one only is shown in Figure 3.

The sup-port is accomplished by providing the feed frame with pins 69 and ill which extend inwardly, away from the observer in Figure 4, from the feed apron E9 into horizontal slots 12 in the upper parts of the vertical slides. They are effectively parts of the feed frame. frame is shown in its position farthest to the right in Figure 4.

One of the pins 69 at each side of the machine is extended outwardly toward the observer in Figure 4, to pass through a hole'in the righthand end (Figure 4) of link 87. This link is attached at its opposite end to'the rocker arm 65 by a pin 13 with the purpose and effect that movement of the rocker arm to left and rightin Figure 4; will carry the feed frame with it to, left and right, the heights ofthe feed frame dur- 7 ing the movements being determined by the heights of the vertical slides l i.

The vertical slides 7! are guidedsuitably and are operated, to lift and to lower them, by cams M acting through cam wheels l5.

Packet upsetting or packet stacking means is shown as of a different character from that shown in Figures 2 and 3 in that one plunger only is used in each of the six packet positions.

The upsetter or stacker includes a plunger 16 hav-.

ing stacker arms 78 at its upper end spaced, one

for each of the six packet rows which the con-.

' tings of the upender and determine whether the venient subdivision of thematch comb has made The arms opis supported on legs l9, rigidly connected at their lower ends to a rocker shaft 80. r The rocker shaft is journaled in a vertically By very slight They ' nuts 8! and'92.

The feed 7 The upsetter or stacker guided bearing 8!. The rocker shaft is lifted' and is allowed to lower by engagement with cams B2. The rocker shaft is held to its duty, i. e., is held against thecams by springs 83 which are compressed by the cam lift and which assist in the downward movement of the rocker shaft. They bear against the journal of the rocker shaft at one .end and at the opposite ends are compressed against a stationary plate such as 84.

Pins 85' above and 86 below, guided in stationary.

structure 86 and 8'1, respectively,- maintain. the rocker shaft against movement circumferentially of the cam. r

The stacker unit comprises the plate 11, arms 18, legs 19 and shaft 80. At the same time that it is vertically operated by the cam 82 it is also subject to angular control about the shaft axis to shift from one upsetting or upending position, engaging let us say the rear end of the packet, to an opposite upsetting or upending position to engage the front of the packet, by laterally spaced longitudinally shiftable control bars 88.

Thebars 88 as shown are threaded rods surrounded by s'p'rings 89 and 98 on opposite sides of the upsetter or stacker, held in position by These springs'are both under compression and permit someleeway in the position of the upsetter or stacker and at the same time provide adjustment by which the normal position of the upsetter may be varied by altering the relative positions of the nuts 9! and G2.

The bar 88 is supported toward" one end by engagement with the upsetter where the bar passes through it. It is supported at the other end in a link 93 pivoted to the bar at its lower end 94 and pivoted at the upper end at 95 to a fixed member 95.

The link 93 presents a nose 9'! to a cam wheel 98. On alternate step-by-step' advances of the cam wheel this nose rests in engagement with the crests 99 of the cam projections Ito and in the cam'valleys NH, respectively. The cam is mounted upon a shaft 12. The shaft carries a ratchet wheel I03 which is operated step-by-step by a pawl NM. The pawl is pivoted upon a rod m5 which passes through vertical slides H. The

pawl is lifted and lowered by the lifting and ,at any time between retraction from one stroke and the next upward stroke! The timing and mechanism shown cause rese ing immediately after retraction .of the upsetter.

With successive actuations by the pawl the cam wheel presses the nose 9? out for one setting of the upsetter and next allows the nose to rest in a valley for the opposite setting. The noses 97 are kept pressed tightly against the cam wheels by springs H36 upon rods 88. The springs rest at one end each against a fixed plate Ill? and at the other end each are held compressed by nuts I58.

The angular shiftings of the upender are"set next lifting operation shall lift the upender beneath thefront ends of the packets or beneath upended arepushed to the left in Figure 4, either by the continued movement of the following packet or by the operation of the bar b of the feed frame. In this particular illustration the bar b extends to the bottom of the guideway when in .its downward position so that it is the notwithstanding that, in the absence of the portion b of bar b it could be so used. The position of the bar I) or of the upender, or both, would.

then be altered. When the packet is upended at the opposite end from that shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 the bar I) of the feed frame will engage from the rear the upper end of the packet which is upended and will shove this packet forward;

Before the feed frame "moves far enough to engage the upper part of the upender the latter is withdrawn so that with further travel of the feed frame to the left in this figure the packet is pressed up against the next preceding packet and is caused to advance the next preceding packet and all before it, so that the packet now being applied takes the place of the last-applied packet shown in the figure.

One advantage of the type of upsetter indicated in Figure 4 is that lateral play is permitted at the top upender Where the arms of the upender pass through the slots in the floor of the guideway. These slots are made somewhat longer than are necessary for the upender to shift from one position to the other for its intended upending in order to accommodate this additional movement.

, The provision for additional movement does not alter the correct positioning of the upender for each upending stroke but does permit the upender to be carried to the left in Figure 4 by engagement of the packet or of the bale b .with the packet during the travel of the feed frame. This play for lateral movement of the upender to the left is permitted by compression of the spring at the left lying between the upender and the nut 9|.

There would be corresponding freedom for additional movement of the upender to the right in the figure but this is not needed.

If separate support of the packets be given at opposite sides, the packets will stay in partly upended position while the upender is withdrawn and until the feed frame engages the packetsto push them into position in the row section. Otherwise the upender would be held up supporting the partly upended packet, at Whichever end the upending has taken place, until the packet has been engaged by the feed frame and has been lifted by the feed frame to a position where the feed frame will control it and will prevent it from falling back toflat position or from falling back far enough to give difficulty in wedging it into vertical position by the feed frame pressure.

During each forward advance of the delivery plunger I8 six books are swept out of the links of the packeting conveyer, one from each of the links, to positions A upon the feed table 20'. At the same time that the plunger I8 advances the feed frame moves forward in lowered position, its rear transverse bar a advancing the six books which havepreviously been at stage A to a flat position at stage B. This is the upending position. During the same forward stroke that delivers packets from stage A to stage B the transverse bar b completes the upending of the books.

In Figure 8, a packeting conveyer I1 is shown delivering a Pullenlite type of packet. The uncut comb stubs I09 of the packets Id at the packet delivery positions are still gripped by individual links of the conveyer. vThe rearward transverse bar a of the feed frame has been replaced by a knife IIB so that each time after the conveyer comes to rest in its packet delivery position the feed frame I9 descends and, during the downward movement of the transverse knife I III, cuts the packets free from the comb stubs while these stubs still are gripped in the conveyer links. The feed frame I9 subsequently functions in the forward progression of the successive sets of packets as described for Figure 4, the knife IIil functioning as the bar a (Figure 4) to push the packets from stage A to their flat'position in stage B, as described.

In the structure of Figure 8 thestub ends may be delivered from the conveyer by a suitable delivery plunger generally like the plunger I8 of Figures 2 and 3 but located at an advanced position of the conveyer.

Referring again to the structures of Figures 1, 2, 4-7, the successive strokes of the feed frame and up-ending and stacking mechanism deliver the packets, one at a time, into each of the six guideways I I I, up-ending the packets first at one end, then at the other and step-by-step progressing the packets, so arranged, in six rows along their guideways! I I to a dischargeposition under a plunger I I2.

It is at present customary to pack fifty match packets to a box; each box to contain two rows of twenty-five each. As illustrated each delivery of the discharge .plungers H3 is intended to take place after each twenty-five strokes of the feed frame and of cooperative mechanisms have progressed two row sections, of twenty-five packets each until they lie under laterally spaced heads H4, H5, for the pair, there being alsoheads IIG, II! and H8, H9 for other pairs.

'It is assumed that each delivery of the discharge member is to fill simultaneously three packet boxes I20, IZI and I22 with two rows of packets of twenty-five packets each.

The guideways II I uniformly spaced from one another at their inlet ends at their discharge ends are brought near together and parallel in pairs, as in Figure l, with the three pairs of guideways I I I registering at their discharge portions respectively above the boxes I20, IZI and I22 and under three corresponding pairs of plunger heads.

The boxes in the illustration are intended to be held resiliently in their receiving positions after an attendant has placed them, one at a time, to enclose at their ends thin guiding and supporting plates I23, I24. The plate I24 may be permanently stationary and the plate I23 movable and continuously resiliently pressing outward, the

boxes being put in place by inwardly deflecting the plate I23 to bring the plates close enough together for both to enter the box interior.

When in place the boxes are held to position by the outward spring retraction of the plate I23 indicated as due to a compression spring I25 compressed between stationary structure and an olfsetting bent portion I26 of the plate.

In their discharge positions, beneath the plunger heads, the guideways are shown as provided with floor plates I21 which act as doors. They are hinged at I28 outside of the line of the side guideway walls and below the guideways. For each box the doors of the two guideways swing downwardly andaway from each other so that the two doors engage the inner side walls re spectively nearest their hinges. The doors are bent or offset at I29 but those doors I30 which normally form .the floors of the guideways are straight and approximately perpendicular to the side walls of the guideways under any closed position. Because of the bend or offset these floor portions of the doors in open position will be approximately parallel with and closely against the respective inner side walls of their boxes and are helpful not only'in guiding the packets into the boxes but in maintaining the full width of the box opening during the filling operation. In this particular they perform part of the same function at the sides of the box that the end parts perform at the ends of the boxes. The spring character of the end plates gives them a supporting function also in that they hold the box up and that the box isultimately removed from them by pressure-through the packets. p

As the plunger heads are moved down by any suitable means-and of course in proper time relation with the operations of the feed frame and its cooperating mechanisms-each head first engages the packets under it and then in pressing the packets down each forces its floor door open. The two rows of packets for any box enter the box between the opened floor doors which when open present their lower edges inside the box along opposite walls thereof. With continuing downward movement of the plunger heads each box remains stationary until the packets engage the bottom of the box, after which the box travelsdownahead of the plungers until it drops off from the supporting end plates to any suitable conveyer not shown.

1 When the plunger heads retract upwardly the floor doors are closed automatically by'any suit able springs shown diagrammatically at I3 I.

In Figures 4 and 5, the plunger heads, intended to operate in any suitable: way after the right number of stacked packets has been positioned beneath them, are indicated as operated'by a bell crank I32, pivotally supported at'I33. One arm I34 forks over projecting pins I35 of the plunger. The bell crank is shown diagrammatically as spring retracted upwardly by spring- I 36. The lower end of the other arm is provided with a hook link I37 adapted to hook back of a pin I38 in the upper end of the rocker 65 at the end of an advanced rocker stroke.

The hook link I31 normally is prevented from hooking to the pin I38 by supported by a cam I49. The cam is mounted rigid with a ratchet wheel MI, both upon shaft I42. A pawl I43 carried 'by the rocker 65 advances the ratchet wheel and thus advances the cam wheel I48 one step during each advance strokeof therocker 65. After the desired number of steps (herein'assumed to be twenty-five in that twenty-five is at present a usual and ,con- Venient number of packets in each box row) the cam wheel advance brings a-notch I44 into regis tration with the pin, the pin permitting the hook link I31 to hookback'of the pin I38. The normal retraction. stroke of the rocker 65 then moves the plunger 'unit downwardly to discharge the stacked packets which lie under the'respective plunger heads of this unit.

Desirably the plunger unit should retract before.

portions of the 1 V and lift it at the end of its retraction stroke.

frame.

a vertical slide pin I39 7 at the completion of the retraction stroke of the rocker 65. At this time it lifts the hook I3! from the pin I38, as by a suitable wedge I45 supported by the'table and in position to engage'the hook In Figure 611 one pair of guideways only is shown in a modification. Thesection is across the box as in Figure 6 and the'structure is of the same general'character as in connection with one of the pairs of guideways. The end plate support for the boxes can be used as in Figure 6 but the-doors of Figure 6 are wholly absent. In their place provision is made by friction on the sides .of the'packets for retardation against downward movement of the packets under plunger operation. The packets are advanced in a straight line by proper action of the feed Since its' entire operation is in a horizontal plane and the packets are not free to drop as they pass along theguideways, there will be but little drop of these packets and they will reach discharge position'with the packets substantially fully raised. The pressure on the packets will discharge them through the open bottom. In this case the pull of the end plates lengthwise of the'box against the ends of the box is relied upon to hold the sides of the box fully extended. 7

Since the friction of the normal guideway sides can be relied upon to give good results in view of the compressibility of the packets, special friction material will ordinarily not be required; however felt linings of one side of each guideway are shown at I46 to provide comparative compression within the walls and quite measurably to increase thefriction whichretards any casual or accidental movement of the packets.

In Figure 6b the box I20 is shown having width for one row of packets only. The end press against the side box walls and affords a 7 guide for the packets while protecting against side'box wall intrusion. The half doors are so short in width as to offer litle need for bending the doors adjacent to the'hinges.

In'Figures 5 and 9 hypothetical timing diagrams have beenadded merely to illustrate more clearly the timing relations of the principal parts of thestructure of Figures 4 and 3 respectively. These diagrams. carry notations which are thought to make their application'apparent and further description is therefore considered unnecessary.

- In view of my invention and disclosure varia-' tions and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of my invention without copying tilting the alternate packets reversely between successive step-by-step advances at one of their step positions, lifting the front end of the first while it is at the said one position and the rear end of the second while it is .at the said position and so on, in continuing the upending movement and the advancing movement of the packets on e the table by forwardly directed pressure upon the rearward ends of the tilted packets and in forcing the upended packet against the packets which have been upended before it to form on the table a progressive advancing row of upended packets as they are upended into engagement with the packets last previously upended to form an increasing row of upended packets.

3. In mechanism for feeding and stacking 'match packets, a conveyer adapted to carry a succession of packets, plunger means for ejecting the packets in succession, a table upon which the packets are delivered, means for advancing the packets on the table, and plunger means operating alternately at different ends of the successive packets to lift one end of each packet and thus reversely to tilt successive packets, the said advancing means being movable successively down, forward, up and rearward and including means operative on the'forward movements for engaging the successive partly tilted packets and upending them.

4. In feeding and stacking mechanism for match packets, a table upon which match packets are placed in succession, feeding mechanism and means for moving it downwardly, forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly by which the packets are engaged and advanced flat on the forward movement to upending position and plunger means operating on the packets successively and at opposite ends of the successive packets to lift the front end of one packet and the rear end of the next packet and so on, the said feeding mechanism including means for engaging the tilted packets successively on each forward movement, upending the tilted packets, one at a time, and pressing it into engagement with the last previously upended packet.

5. In feeding and stacking mechanism for match packets, a table upon which match packets are placed in succession, feeding mechanism and means for moving it downwardly, forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly by which the packets are engaged and advanced fiat on the forward movement to upending position and plunger means operating on the packets successively at opposite ends of the successive packets to lift the front end of one packet andrear end of the next packet and so on, the rearward edges of alternate packets being pressed forward by the following packets and the said feeding mechanism including means for engaging the tilted packets to upend them and force them against previously upended packets.

6. In mechanism for feeding match packets,

a table, a feed frame having a rear feeding bar, means for giving the feed frame vertical and horizontal movements whereby the bar is adapted to advance flat packets on the table, vertically reciprocable plunger means operating alternately at the front and rearof successive packets to lift the front of one packet and the rear of the next packet and so on, and a bar carried by the feed frame adapted to engage the tilted packets and upend the packets, alternate packets being shoved by preceding packets to assist in the upending of the packets.

7. In mechanism for feeding match packets, a table, a feed frame having a rear feeding bar, means for giving the feed frame vertical and horizontal movements whereby the bar is adapted to advance fiat packets on the table, vertically reciprocable plunger means operating alternately at the front and rear of the packets to lift the front of one packet and the rear of the next packat and so on, the Walls at opposite sides of the packets engaging the side edges of the packets and causing them to be retained in position to which they have been lifted.

8. In upending mechanism for match packets, walls forming a guideway for the packets in which the packets are delivered flat and tilting means for the packets comprising a pair of upwardly and downwardly movable plungers located near the front and rear ends of flat packets in one position in the guideway, cam means for lifting the two plungers successively, a vertically and horizontally movable feed frame, cam means for operating the feed frame and a bar on the front of the feed frame adapted to engage packets in tilted position and upend them. I

9. In mechanism for feeding and upending match packets, walls forming a guideway, horizontal feeding mechanism for advancing the packets in the guideway, cam means for operating the feeding mechanism, a shaft operating the cam means, a second shaft having half the speed of the first shaft, cams on the second shaft operating once for each rotation of the second shaft, a pair of plungers operated respectively by the different cams and operating alternately once for each'rotation of the second shaft and adapted to engage respectively the front and rear ends of a packet as delivered by the feed frame and means upon the front of the feed frame for assisting the plungers in upending successive packets.

10. In mechanism for feeding and boxing match packets, a conveyer, means for ejecting packets from the conveyer, an upwardly and downwardly movable plunger, cam means for lifting and lowering the plunger, cam means for swinging the plunger to engage a packet alternately beneath the front end and beneath the rear end of the packet, resilient connections whereby the plunger is free to shift laterally in either position into its place, a feed frame adapted to deliver packets in position for the tilting by the plunger and adapted to shift the packets from tilted to upended positions whereby a row of upended packets is formed, plunger means for pushing a predetermined number of upended packets down into a box and cam means for operating the plunger at intervals corresponding with the formation of a pack to be boxed.

11. In feeding and stacking mechanism for match packets, a table upon which match packets are placed in succession, feeding mechanism and means for moving it downwardly, forwardly upwardly and re-arwardly, by which the packets are engaged and advanced flat on the forward movement to upending position, plunger means operating on the packets successively at opposite ends of the successive packets to lift the front end of one packet and the rear end of the next packet and so on, and friction means engaging the sides of the packet being tilted for momentarily retaining the packets successively in tilting position when the plunger means is withdrawn, the rearward edges of alternate packets being pressed forward by the following packets and the said feeding mechanism including means for engaging the tilted packets to upend them and force them against previously upended packets.

In mechanism for boxing match packets, Walls forming a guideway, means for delivering packets fiat in the guideway, a plunger and connections adapted to lift and lower to engage ends of the packets to tilt the packets successively, setting means for the plunger to cause it to engage one end of one packet or the other end of the next packet alternately and feeding means for engaging the packets and completing the upending of the packets.

V walls forming a guideway for packets of width slightly less than the width of the packets so 1 3. In mechanism for boxing match packets,

that the packets will stay in any position to which they have been forced, the, guideway having an open bottom near one end, means for delivering the packets successively flat in the lower part of the guideway, plunger mechanism for lifting one end each, alternate ends, of successive packets to cant the packets, a feed barengaging the packets to turn them from canted position to upended position and to push the packets one successive packets operative between intermittent advances of the packets so that the tilted 7 packets in the next packet advance automatically stack broadwise of their guideways alternately end for end, each packet broadwise of its guideway intermittently advanced along the guideway by the packets behind it to a position for its downward delivery from the guideway, the guideways beyond the stacking position being close together and having a downward delivery opening along a portion each thereof, movable doors across the openings, a support for a packet box adapted to present the box open beneath the openings and the doors as they open downwardly overlapping the opposite sides of the box, and means for pushing match packets concurrently from both guideways down into the box.

' RODNEY S.- PULLEN. 

